Photo By Sgt. Vail Forbeck | A competitor engages steel targets during the 2025 FTIG 2-Gun Steel Shoot at Fort...... read more read more
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FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Soldiers with the Pennsylvania and Maryland National Guard joined civilian staff in a test of skill and speed at the 2025 2-Gun Steel Shoot here, June 14, 2025.
Twenty competitors faced off in a high-tempo rifle and pistol match that emphasized precision, pressure and camaraderie. Designed as a morale, welfare and recreation event, the shoot brought together military and civilian personnel for friendly competition and professional development.
“We built this as an MWR event to give active-duty members and those who work at Fort Indiantown Gap a unique opportunity to leverage the resources here,” said Staff Sgt. James Rudershausen, a range operations specialist at Fort Indiantown Gap. “With some help from USAA and the team, we were able to bring it all together.”
The competition featured two dynamic stages requiring both pistol and rifle engagements against reactive steel targets. Competitors used their personally owned firearms, facing targets ranging from 25 to 100 yards, all while racing against the clock.
Precision Meets Pressure
The competition kicked off promptly at 8 a.m. following a mandatory safety briefing and course overview. Each competitor faced 20 pistol engagements, 12 rifle engagements and unlimited rounds per engagement, with time penalties for missed targets.
Scoring was based on total course completion time, with penalties applied for unhit targets. Each competitor had only one shot at each stage, putting added emphasis on both speed and accuracy.
Winners & Standouts
After a full morning of competition and final scoring, the top marksmen were recognized during a closing ceremony.
1st Place: Sgt. Matviy Korytnyuk, an infantryman with Delta Troop, 2nd Battalion, 104th Cavalry Regiment, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard.
“This was my first competition. I’ve never shot anything like this before,” Korytnyuk said. “For anyone who just wants to come out and try, this is awesome. Everything’s set up, there’s food, and you get to shoot steel.”
2nd Place: Col. Kevin D. Potts, commander of the Fort Indiantown Gap National Guard Training Center, delivered a top-tier performance while also supporting the team that organized the event.
“If you have a firearm, just come on out and give it a try. It doesn’t matter what it is. Just come out and have some fun with it. See if you like it, and then you can really start to get into it,” Potts said. “This kind of competition gives people a reason to train outside of the normal duty day. It’s about building community but it’s also a great way to reinforce the fundamentals that make us better Soldiers and leaders. There’s just something about hearing that steel ring. It brings people together, and it keeps your edge sharp.”
3rd Place: Sgt. 1st Class Ben Harris, assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment, Maryland Army National Guard, rounded out the podium with a strong, disciplined run.
As the competition intensified, safety and camaraderie remained front and center throughout the day.
Community and Safety First
Competitors arrived with personally zeroed weapons, though a zeroing range had been made available earlier in the week to ensure a level playing field. Safety was enforced from start to finish, with range officials monitoring each stage closely.
The event offered more than just competition. It emphasized the spirit of connection and mutual respect across units and roles.
“This is just a fun way to get together, the camaraderie of shooting sports,” Potts said. “It’s fun to be together, have a good time and put some rounds downrange.”
Rudershausen offered advice for future competitors:
“Slow down. Everyone’s watching,” he said with a grin. “You never really know how good you are until you go up against the competition.”
Korytnyuk, who took the win despite showing up on little sleep, encouraged new shooters to give it a shot.
“Don’t self-select yourself. Just come out. Just try,” Korytnyuk said. “Dry firing is the number one thing, it’s free. Clean your weapon, work on trigger control and don’t just look cool, try to actually be cool.”
Looking Ahead
With strong turnout and enthusiasm across the board, the 2-Gun Steel Shoot is expected to return in 2026, with many participants already asking for the event to be held twice a year. Organizers plan to continue growing the event while keeping it fun, inclusive and rooted in readiness.
| Date Taken: | 06.14.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 06.16.2025 15:05 |
| Story ID: | 500641 |
| Location: | FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 116 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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